Game-table.



Patented Aug. 27, l90l. H. F. W. LOTZ.

G A M E T A B L E (Application filed s z. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES H M m T A THE mums PETER co. mm'oum. wuummu. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. W. LOTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAM E-TABLE.

STEQIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681 ,330, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed September 15, 1900- $erial No. 3 1 (N0 modem To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY F. \V. LOTZ, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a game, and consists, generally speaking, of an inclined table partially divided into two compartments and in which one of a pair of balls similar to those used upon pool and billiard tables may be caused by the skilful manipulation of a cue to pass under a series of arches and enter an opening at the rear of the table or upon the failure to enter said opening may be caused to lodgein one of the several pockets arranged about the table, the count or points of the game being dependent upon the skill required to reach the objective point.

My invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of the game forming the subject-matter of myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows a detached view of the trough for conveying the ball entering the opening in the rear of the table back to the starting-point.

Referring to the reference-letters indicated upon the drawings, A represents the body of the table, which is provided with sides A, which are curved at one end and broughtinward toward the center at points A A thus practically dividing the table into two compartments B and B. In the compartment B is arranged a guideway 0, formed by two parallel strips 0 and 0 between which, at the front end, is an inclined block 0 against which the cue-ball F or ball to be operated upon rests. The compartment B contains at the front end a series of pockets D and is also provided with a number of pins or posts E, arranged on either side of the strips 0 and C and between these pins or posts are pockets D and D The compartment B is provided with an opening G, about which are arranged a number of arches H, and with pockets D and 13*, together with a slight demake this important play the ball F will strike one of the arches H and either enter the pocket D or pocket D or pass into the compartment 1- and, rolling between the pins E, enter one of the pockets of the forward compartment.

Arranged below the table is a lever I, pivoted at a point I, provided at one end with a figurehead I and at the opposite end with a catch 1 which latter is acted upon by a piece of rubber or light spring I to cause it to engage the catch. Below the lever I and extending along the entire length of the table is a trough J, provided at one end with an incline J, having a central recess J to allow the lever I to enter when the end I is depressed, as shown in dotted lines, and upon either side of this incline are guides J and J to cause the ball entering the opening G to pass down to the center of the incline J and act upon the front end of the lever to latch the same.

The operation of the lever I is as follows: Should the player he skilful enough to cause the ball F to pass through the arches H and enter the opening G, the ball F would come in contact with the figurehead I and depress that end of the lever I. This would cause the opposite end or weighted end to rise and by its curved surface throw back the catch 1 against the action of the spring or flexible medium 1 The ball would then drop to one side of the figurehead, and the weighted end of the lever would fallbefore the latch could engage it and rest 011 the bottom of the trough J, thus exposing the iigurehead above the bottom of the table through the opening G. The ball F, however, being carried to the center of the table by means'of the guides J 3 and J will pass slowly under the weighted end of the lever, raising the same and cansing the catch I to engage the latch I, and thus secure the lever in its normal position.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A game comprising an inclined board or table provided at one end With partiallyclosed curved sides and at the opposite end with a centrally-located guideway for a ball and with anopening to receive the ball, a lever fulcrumed below the table having one of its ends arranged below said opening and means controlled by a ball for locking and unlocking said lever.

2. A game comprising an inclined table partially divided into two compartments, uprights in one of said compartments forming a centrally-located guideway for a ball, pockets arranged in one or both of said compartments, a series of pins arranged on either side of said uprights, a curved compartment provided with an opening which is in alinement with said guideway, a series of arches in close proximity to said opening and in alinement with the guideway, a lever fulcrumed below the table one end of which is provided with a figure arranged below said opening, and means as shown controlled by a ball for locking and unlocking the lever.

3. A game comprising an inclined table having at one end a guideway to receive a ball and a series of pockets arranged on either side of said guideway, a series of pins arranged on either side of the guideway, pockets arranged between the pins, a compartment formed by the curved sides of the table provided at the bottom with an opening to receive a ball, a series of arches arranged about said opening, a lever fulcrumed below the table having one end provided with a figme which, is arranged directly below said opening a catch arranged upon the opposite side of said lever a spring-actuated latch adapted to engage the catch and hold it in its normal position, and a trough arranged below the table to receive and deliver the ball to the starting-point.

4E. Agame comprising an inclined table having sides curved at one end and straight at the other end and so constructed as to partially low the table having at one end a figurehead located directly below said opening a catch arranged upon the opposite side of said lever, a spring-actuated latch adapted to engage the catch, a trough arranged below the table to return the ball to its starting-point said trough being provided at one end with a guide to cause the ball to act upon said lever, substantially as specified.

Signed at Philadelphia this 8th day of September, 1900.

HENRY F. W. LOTZ.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. GEGGIS, J OSEPH J. GEGGIS. 

